The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-26
ONE BALD AND ONE GOLDEN.
The Story OF Two Eagles on Show In
a Norwich Store Window.
From tIe New York sun.

From the Netg York sun.
NORWICH. Dec. g.-The Legislature in
1888 enacted a law making the penalty for
the offenss OF killing an American eagle a
fine OF rom S25 to $50 and the cost of pros
ecutlon, or an Imprisonment of not more
than thirty days. Having adopted the
statute, it was at once placed in the archive
of inert laws, for the number OF which
Connecticut is distinguished above other
tates, and the American eagle was shot
with reinvigorated impunity. With char
acteristic spirit country hunters, who, prior
to the passage of the law, had not cared
much about shooting American eagles, neg
lected no opportunity to bring down the
bird OF freedom.
For reasons not understood by local or
nithologists, the Thames river valley has al
ways been favored haunt ef the national
bird. In the past fifteen years every eagle
that has been killed in the State, with the
exception Of one or two shot in Fairfield
county, has been killed in this valley.
Almost da ~ an eagle may be seen above
this river, sometimes mere speck against
the blue dome, often lowering over a val ey
farmstead to find out whether the farmer
has anything good to eat in his poultry
yard, or winging his way treacherously
under cover of the forests that skirt the
river banks. looking for a chance 10 rob an
industrious fish-hawk of his fresh fish.
From the valley the eagles occasionally
journey over to Stonington, and even to
Rhode Island in seal ch of meat, fish and
clans on the long, lonely benches.
1t was the Intent of the eagle statute
to preserve the Thames river valley as
breeding place, the legislators being moved
by laudabl fear that if the destruction of
tine bird went on there would not he eagles
enough left in the State after few yea S
for Fourth of July celebrations and other
patriotic purposes but it is apparent that
the American eage can look out for himself
without the help of Ha tford and in spite
off lawless hunters Within a week or two
four handsome birds have been shot in this
part of the State, three IN the valley, and
one near Westerly by small boy with a
rusty musket. The handsonlest bird, which
is a giant, hes been set up, and is now on
public exhibition in a store window h this
city, in undersigned evidenc of the efficacy
of Connecticut statutes. IL is not 50 bald as
the bald eagle of Westchester. but its
feathers are very thin on thu top Of its head,
and there is beautiful cape of white feath
erS under its wings, with a band of white
about the neck.
In the window il is the distinguished COM
pany of golden eagle, rare bird in New
England, which was captured in steel trap
in Preston in tie gnobe business of steal
ing chickens from Mr.. Guile, of that town,
a few weeks ago. IL had a habit of drop
ping into Mr.. Guile'S yard daily and carry
ing off a hen ors turkey, and it had got
away with about a dozen of his fowls before
the steel trap fastened 70 its legs IL is a
much bigger and an imm ensely stronger
b Ri than the bald eagle, with great spread
OF pinions that could easily carry away a
full-grown turkey or IA lamb Mr.. Guile has
no doubt that it could have flown away with
a baby II it had been fond Of country babies
in the rough.